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B+Health Grade
Health in Nipomo · CDC PLACES 2025

Nipomo is healthier than 71% of U.S. towns

Nipomo differs from California on 5 of 40 measures. It has fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth (8% vs 10.6%) and fewer adults facing food insecurity (15% vs 17.9%). Where it trails the state: more adults who have had cancer (7.9% vs 6.4%).

Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Nipomo. How CDC estimates town health

Health Grade

Nipomo’s Health Grade: B+

On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Nipomo is healthier than 71% of U.S. towns and 61% of California towns.

C+Self-rated health20.5% · CA 22.1%
BPhysical distress13.8% · CA 13.4%
BMental distress16.5% · CA 16.4%
AObesity27.6% · CA 27.8%
B+Diabetes10.5% · CA 11.7%
A−Smoking11% smoke · CA 10.9%
B+Exercise22.2% · CA 24.6%
All U.S. towns we grade (19,420)Healthier than 71%
Less healthyHealthier
California towns we grade (1,056)Healthier than 61%
U.S. towns with similar incomes, $83K–$138K (6,727)Healthier than 48%

Wealth explains part of the grade. Nipomo is healthier than 71% of U.S. towns overall, but against towns with similar incomes its edge is smaller.

These are estimates. At the ends of CDC’s likely ranges, Nipomo could be anywhere from B− to A.
How the Health Grade works
  • Seven CDC estimates. Adults in fair or poor health, frequent physical distress, frequent mental distress, obesity, diabetes, smoking and no exercise (CDC PLACES, 2025 release). On each one a town earns the share of U.S. towns doing worse, and those shares are averaged. It’s the same score as the Healthiest towns in California ranking.
  • Graded on a national curve. Every U.S. town with 1,000+ residents and all seven estimates (19,420 places): A+ is the top 5%, A the next 10%, A− the next 10%, the B range the next 30%, the C range the next 30%, D and D− the bottom 15%. There’s no F.
  • Not adjusted for income. Wealthier towns are usually healthier, and the grade shows that as it is. The similar-incomes bar compares Nipomo with U.S. towns whose median household income is within 25% of its own.
  • Modeled, not measured. CDC combines national survey answers with each area’s age, sex, race and income mix. High blood pressure is left out because it tracks age more than anything else. The confidence line recomputes the grade with every estimate at the low, then the high, end of its range.
Chronic conditions

Out of every 100 Nipomo adults…

Nipomo runs below CA on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.

8 of every 100 Nipomo adults have had cancer
California: 6 in 100 · worse · likely 7.2–8.7%
Better than CAWorseAbout the sameCalifornia
Getting care

Care in and near Nipomo

1 community health center in Nipomo, plus the nearest just outside it.

HNearest ERMarian Regional Medical CenterSanta Maria · 7.2 miDirections →
★Best rated nearbyFrench Hospital Medical Center★★★★★ · 19.1 miDirections →
+Low-cost careCommunity Health Centers of the Central CoastNipomo · 0.3 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
0.3 mi
Community Health Centers of the Central Coast
4 sites · nearest in Nipomo
Sliding-scale feesIn Nipomo
Directions to nearest
6.3 mi
County of Santa Barbara
4 sites · nearest in Santa Maria
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
7.2 mi
Marian Regional Medical Center
Santa Maria · ★★★★★
ER
19.1 mi
French Hospital Medical Center
San Luis Obispo · ★★★★★
ER
20.3 mi
Adventist Health Sierra Vista
San Luis Obispo · ★★★★★
ER
27.2 mi
Lompoc Valley Medical Center
Lompoc · ★★★★★
ER
✓ Primary careNipomo is not a shortage area
✓ Dental careNipomo is not a shortage area
! Mental healthPart of Nipomo is a federal shortage area.HN - MSSA 171/172 - Arroyo Grande/San Luis Obispo · need score 13 of 25

Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Nipomo; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).

Habits

Everyday habits, side by side with California

Share of adults, with the California figure marked.

Get no exercise 22.2%CA 24.6%
Sleep under 7 hours 32.3%CA 35.1%
Binge drink 16.4%CA 15.3%
Smoke cigarettes 11%CA 10.9%
0%10%20%30%40%
Nipomo, betterNipomo, worseAbout the sameCalifornia
Where Nipomo gets moving

11 miles of trails across 1 parks and preserves

Parks & trails →
Checkups & screenings

Keeping up with care

Share of Nipomo adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks California.

71% Yearly checkupCA 72%
66% Dentist visitCA 63%
86% Cholesterol checkCA 85%
63% Colon screeningCA 58%
76% MammogramCA 76%
71% Taking BP medsCA 71%
1 in 9
working-age adults has no health insurance
Nipomo 10.6% · California 1 in 9 (10.6%)
Mind & connection

How Nipomo adults are doing

About the same as California on each measure.

1 in 3Nipomo adults feel lonely
35.3% · CA 37.3% · About the same as CA
1 in 4Nipomo adults lack social or emotional support
26.7% · CA 28.6% · About the same as CA
1 in 5Nipomo adults have been diagnosed with depression
21.8% · CA 20.1% · About the same as CA
1 in 6Nipomo adults are in frequent mental distress
16.5% · CA 16.4% · About the same as CA
The one neighbors can help with

1 in 3 Nipomo adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.

Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.

Find a group →

If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.

Everyday needs

Making ends meet

Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.

1 in 7
Nipomo adults worry about having enough food
15% · CA 17.9%
Better than CA
1 in 8
Nipomo adults worry about keeping their housing
13.1% · CA 14.9%
About the same as CA
1 in 16
Nipomo adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
6.4% · CA 7.3%
About the same as CA
1 in 13
Nipomo adults lack reliable transportation
8% · CA 9.3%
Better than CA

12.2% of Nipomo adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15.6% across California.

Around town

Nipomo and the towns around it

How health changes across the town line.

Woodlands: 25.5% Blacklake: 22.9% Callender: 26.8% Nipomo: 27.6% NipomoWoodlandsBlacklake Nipomo Community Medical Center · Nipomo · 0.3 mi+
Healthier than CANear CALess healthyHHospital+Health center
Obesity
#4 of 4 towns on this map, healthiest first
Blacklake22.9%
Woodlands25.5%
Nipomo27.6%
CA27.8%

Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.

Health Grades next door

Tap a town to see its health page
NipomoB+WoodlandsB+
Disability

Living with a disability

Shown without a better/worse judgment.

29.8%

of Nipomo adults live with a disability (California 30.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.

Walking or climbing stairs13.6%
Thinking or memory14.5%
Hearing6.4%
Errands alone7.7%
Vision5.1%
Dressing or bathing3.6%
California
All 40 CDC measures for Nipomo
MeasureNipomoLikely rangeCalifornia
Chronic conditions
High blood pressure31.1%27.7–34.7%30.5%about the same
High cholesterol34.2%30.5–38.1%35.4%about the same
Obesity27.6%22.3–33.4%27.8%about the same
Arthritis23.1%20.5–25.8%20.8%about the same
Depression21.8%18.8–25%20.1%about the same
Lost all teeth (65+)8%6.4–9.9%10.6%better
Asthma9.8%8.7–11%9.3%about the same
Cancer (not skin)7.9%7.2–8.7%6.4%worse
Diabetes10.5%9.1–12%11.7%about the same
COPD5.5%4.9–6.2%5.1%about the same
Heart disease5.9%5.3–6.5%5.6%about the same
Stroke3.2%2.9–3.4%3.1%about the same
Habits
Smoke cigarettes11%9.4–12.5%10.9%about the same
Binge drink16.4%13.7–19.5%15.3%about the same
Get no exercise22.2%18.8–25.8%24.6%about the same
Sleep under 7 hours32.3%26.7–38.3%35.1%about the same
Care & screenings
Yearly checkup71.1%67.3–74.8%71.9%about the same
Dentist visit65.9%62.4–69.3%62.8%about the same
Cholesterol check86.4%84.8–88%85.4%about the same
Colon screening62.9%57.8–67.8%57.5%better
Mammogram75.5%68–82%75.7%about the same
Taking BP meds70.9%67.6–74.1%71.3%about the same
No health insurance10.6%9–12.4%10.6%about the same
Mind & connection
Feel lonely35.3%30.8–40.3%37.3%about the same
Lack emotional support26.7%23.2–30.6%28.6%about the same
Frequent mental distress16.5%14.7–18.4%16.4%about the same
Fair or poor health20.5%18.1–23%22.1%about the same
Frequent physical distress13.8%12.2–15.4%13.4%about the same
Everyday needs
Food insecurity15%12.8–17.4%17.9%better
Housing insecurity13.1%11.3–15%14.9%about the same
Utility shut-off threat6.4%5.5–7.3%7.3%about the same
No reliable transportation8%7.1–9.1%9.3%better
Receive SNAP12.2%10.5–14.2%15.6%
Disability
Any disability29.8%26.2–33.4%30.4%
Walking or climbing stairs13.6%11.9–15.2%13.8%
Thinking or memory14.5%12.9–16.2%14.6%
Hearing6.4%5.7–7.1%5.9%
Vision5.1%4.6–5.5%5.6%
Dressing or bathing3.6%3.3–4%3.9%
Errands alone7.7%6.9–8.6%8.1%

How CDC estimates town health

Modeled estimates

CDC combines a large national health survey with each area’s age, sex, race and income mix to estimate local rates. Nobody surveyed Nipomo door to door.

Close calls stay gray

Every figure has a likely range. When the California figure falls inside it, we don’t call Nipomo better or worse.

CDC’s own town estimate

CDC publishes Nipomo directly, so these are its own figures.

Neighbors talk health

Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Nipomo.

Town Square →
Weigh in
Live in Nipomo? Is a B+ for health right?

Your answer becomes a post in Town Square.

Ask your neighbors

Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The California figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. The Health Grade is our own summary of CDC’s estimates, not an official rating. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.

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